March 26

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Holy Week is here and now it's time for us all to ponder this special time in our own ways. I hope this blog has helped at least one or two people stick to the daily readings.

I'm trying to wrap this up while listening to son play trumpet in the living room, near the front door...where something has died under the front porch. In other words, I'm ending this blog with bleeding ears and the stench of death at my feet. We are packed to go to the Grand Canyon like a bunch of Griswolds on vacation. Happy Easter y'all!

(Oh for the love of God, does not have to be practice time?!?! I cannot think!)

As I reach for Patience and Kindness and some ear plugs, I will be reminiscing about our journey through our bags. This weekend, when we think about Easter baskets and Easter best purses, don't forget about all the wonderful tools and Easter gifts God has packed for us 24-7.

(Ok, now the beagle is howling at him. Yet, the trumpeting continues full bore! Lord. Can you say airline toddy?)

Singing off. Happy Easter and may your Caddy continue to help you use all the perfect tools and equipment he has designed for you to his glory and good works.

⁵   For you are my hope, O LORD God, *
my confidence since I was young. 
⁶   I have been sustained by you ever since I was born; from my mother's womb you have been my strength; *
my praise shall be always of you. 
⁷   I have become a portent to many; *
but you are my refuge and my strength. 
⁸   Let my mouth be full of your praise *
and your glory all the day long. 

March 25

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Ah, the sounds of Spring Break are reverberating through our house. The kids are playing "Burrito" and "Santa with Schnoogie Bear" where they wrap each other or our snarling Beagle puppy in their comforter and then scream bloody murder that they want out. I knew there was a reason I love the drudgery and fast pace of a school day!

Today's tool is the "It's Not About You Brush."Does anyone ever find themselves in a funk when the world is against you? I've been there a few times lately...those moments when I think surely I must have done something to make so-and-so mad. Or so-and-so must not like me much right now. A friend hasn't called me back. I get left off an email. I get a look from somebody. I haven't heard from a family member or friend in a long while. All that, and SURELY it's something I've done or the I'm doing or that I should be doing. I am at fault here. I am so wrong, somehow...someway. It's all about me. Me. Me. Me. Call it paranoia or self-obsession or misplaced concern, but at the end of the day those thoughts revolve around only one person: me.

I was having said thoughts about some dried up communication lines with a family member when Caddy handed me "The BRUSH." The Brush is a reminder that these situations are not about me, in most cases. They are a direct reflection of someone else's unhappiness or challenge or busy life. If I haven't acted out or been ugly, then chances are I need to brush off whatever misplaced concerns I have about myself and refocus that energy on ways I can reach out to others.

The Brush smooths out the tangles, frees us of guilt and with a pop on the fanny, helps us address these negative feelings in terms of others, not ourselves.

During this Holy Week leading into Easter, how relieving it is to use the tools God has given us to refocus on others — and on Him. This week, let's all turn our conscience from "dead works" to worshiping the living God. Not our own paranoid thoughts.

Hebrews 9: "For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!"

March 24-- Palm Sunday

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Today is Palm Sunday. It is a miserable looking day. No sun, lots of thick gray clouds...it has been raining and it looks like more is to come. I have packing for our Spring Break trip on the brain, and maybe another cup of coffee. My son is playing the trumpet for the love of Pete, and loudly. My daughter is fuming because the "let's smother each other with our comforters" proved to be a disappointing and scary game. Whining and screaming is prevalent. Church in 30 minutes, really?

Caddy hands me Contemplation. Contemplation is not to be confused with Zoning Out, or Tuning Out or the other similar and less ineffective tools. Contemplation involves detaching, studying and absorbing. Today's reading from Luke 22, the story of Palm Sunday and Jesus final hours are cause for Contemplation. Instead of worrying about umbrellas and jackets and who's doing what when and where, I'm going to choose Contemplation on this special Sunday:

Luke 22:14-23:56

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. "You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!" Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me." He said to them, "When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "No, not a thing." He said to them, "But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, 'And he was counted among the lawless' and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled." They said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." He replied, "It is enough." He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial." Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial." While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?" When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?" Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!" Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, "This man also was with him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, "Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!" At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?" They kept heaping many other insults on him. When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us." He replied, "If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." All of them asked, "Are you, then, the Son of God?" He said to them, "You say that I am." Then they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!" Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so." Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man." But they were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place." When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies. Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him." Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!" (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him." But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished. As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent." And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

March 23

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Today have been fiddling with the Resignation tool. It's what you grab when there's really no other plan of action to take. On Friday, I thought I'd get good and ready for spring break by running in for a spray tan...you know, to get a little color for our trip out West. Let's just say I didn't apply enough of the barrier cream to my hands and feet and now I am suffering the consequences. I look like I have some kind of liver disease, at least when I give someone a high five. Yuck. Uh oh spaghettios.

Caddy tossed me Resignation when I woke up and saw the full extent of my temporary sallowness. I can't scrub it off, or peel it off, or wash the crap out of my hands, or put acid on myself. That's what I get for approaching vanity. I get stuck with sick orange hands and yellow smokers fingernails. Oh well.

(This just in: Caddy tossed David Resignation when he screamed too loud during Monopoly and the dog butt-juiced on him. Resignation.)

March 22

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Sure. Just like the tools No, and Yes, Sure is a handy tool to pull out of the tool bag. Sure also goes by the name of Of Course. It's the tool your Caddy hands you when he knows you're really not that into it, but you have the time and resources to be into it, and well, you might as well just do it.

So Ben and I are here enjoying our first day of spring break. He slept in, although I've already had a full morning running little sis to school for her last day in the classroom. After washing back some donuts and asking me the dreaded, "What are we going to do today?" he proposes we go bowling, or do the zip line at the Alligator Farm. Caddy hands me No right away, which I implement. Then Ben suggests Monopoly. I physically want to fold laundry or run some errands or take an ice bath rather than play the often-hours-long Monopoly, but Caddy persists with his selection: Sure.

Sure. It may not be your idea of a fantabulous event or activity, but it probably is to the person who gets the Sure nod.  So here we go...plans for the day are in motion. Spring Break has officially begun. We have passed Go, I'm just hoping for a little Free Parking.

Jeremiah 29: 12: "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart,"

March 21

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I look forward to whipping out my Rest tool for the next 11 days. Spring Break has officially begun. I just put my "out of office" button on and my message says something to the effect of "don't bug me until next week." I am checkin out, baby. Check. In. Out. Going to use a little Rest and his friend, Relaxation.

It's so easy and exhausting to get used to the rigors of every day routine. I'm not sure about you, but I find myself in go-go-go mood (Burro! Burro! Burro! in Farsi, I believe) every day of the week...and on most Saturdays and Sundays depending on the schedule. Rest is a welcome respite from this fast moving train. However, it can be mistaken for its evil twin Snooze or Doze, which make way for the evilist of doo-dads...Sloth and Slug. Rest, however, is one a-ok mama jamma.

Rest works because it yields Peace. Rest is falling into peace and relishing in the assurance that God has got it all covered, and you don't need to worry one more minute about anything. Rest helps your mind from bouncing around. Look, I'm doing it now because my mind has wandered to this news:

A good friend just told me she's having another baby. Lord, this gal is doing the 40-year-old thing and now a baby. Wowzers. She's excited, and after joking her about having to hang up her dancing on the bar table shoes, I shared in her anticipation and elation. Babies are a pain, but nothing beats that freshess, the snuggly warmth and their pure joy. And the sleep a LOT when they're little. And that means rest for mama.

Psalm 131:" ³  But I still my soul and make it quiet, like a child upon its mother's breast; *
my soul is quieted within me."

Got Rest? Happy Spring Break!

March 20

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Due to lack of brain cells and a busy day that has taken me many places before noon, I'm still stuck on yesterday's tool examination: the "Shut-the-heck-and-Listen" Tool. A little Lenten challenge for you today. Whether you use passive voice or rearrange your sentence structure or follow the rules literally, try to finish off the rest of the day without using the word "I" or "me" in a sentence.

It is expected to be a tough assignment for this ole bag, promises there!

In the words of Vanilla Ice, "Stop! Collaborate...and Listen." When I and me are out of the equation, you are forced to ask more questions of others and, yes, listen.

Or this, one of this 1970s-born blogger's all time absolute favorite ditties in the whole wide world: